| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Eventually all the kings who reigned in the hill country across the Jordan River and in the low-lying coastlands of the Mediterranean Sea facing Lebanon heard about this. So the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites | 1When the news reached all the kings on the west side of the Jordan--in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon (including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites)-- |
| 2united together as one to fight against both Joshua and Israel. | 2they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel. |
| 3But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, | 3When the residents of Gibeon heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, |
| 4they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys, worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins, | 4they did something clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys, along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched. |
| 5worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold. | 5They had worn-out, patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. All their bread was dry and hard. |
| 6Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, "We've arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now." | 6They came to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant land. Make a treaty with us." |
| 7But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, how can we make a treaty with you?" | 7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?" |
| 8So they responded to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? And where did you come from?" | 8But they said to Joshua, "We are willing to be your subjects." So Joshua said to them, "Who are you and where do you come from?" |
| 9They answered, "Your servants have arrived from a very distant land, because of the reputation of the LORD your God, because we've heard a report about all that he did in Egypt, | 9They told him, "Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the LORD your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt |
| 10along with all of what he did to the two Amorite kings who were beyond the Jordan River—that is, to King Sihon of Heshbon and to King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. | 10and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan--King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth. |
| 11So our leaders and all of the inhabitants of our country told us, 'Take provisions along with you for your journey, go to meet them, and tell them, "We are your servants. Come now and make a treaty with us."' | 11Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, 'Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, "We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us."' |
| 12Look at our bread: it was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for our journey on the very day we set out to come to you. But now, look how it's dry and moldy. | 12This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you, but now it is dry and hard. |
| 13And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but look—now they're cracked. And our clothes and sandals are worn out from our very long journey." | 13These wineskins we filled were brand new, but look how they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have worn out because it has been a very long journey." |
| 14So the leaders of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not ask the LORD about it. | 14The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the LORD's advice. |
| 15They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them. | 15Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath. |
| 16But three days after they had made the treaty with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and were living in their midst. | 16Three days after they made the treaty with them, the Israelites found out they were from the local area and lived nearby. |
| 17So the Israelis set out for their cities and three days later they reached their cities of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. | 17So the Israelites set out and on the third day arrived at their cities--Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. |
| 18The Israelis did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had made an oath with them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. Nevertheless, the entire congregation grumbled against their leaders. | 18The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders, |
| 19Then all of the leaders spoke to the entire congregation, "We have sworn to them in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them. | 19but all the leaders told the whole community, "We swore an oath to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. So now we can't hurt them! |
| 20So this is what we'll do to them: we'll let them live, so that wrath won't come upon us because of the oath that we swore to them." | 20We must let them live so we can escape the curse attached to the oath we swore to them." |
| 21The leaders told them, "Let them live." So they became wood cutters and water carriers for the entire congregation, which is what the leaders had decided concerning them. | 21The leaders then added, "Let them live." So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided. |
| 22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and asked them, "Why did you deceive us by saying 'We live far away from you,' even though you were, in fact, living in our midst? | 22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you trick us by saying, 'We live far away from you,' when you really live nearby? |
| 23Now therefore you are under a curse. Some of you will always be slaves, wood cutters, and water carriers for the house of my God." | 23Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." |
| 24They replied to Joshua, "Because your servants had been informed that the LORD your God had certainly commanded his servant Moses to give you the entire land and to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land before you. So we were terrified for our lives because of you. That's why we did this. | 24They said to Joshua, "It was carefully reported to your subjects how the LORD your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified we would lose our lives, so we did this thing. |
| 25Now we're under your control: do to us as it seems good and right in your opinion." | 25So now we are in your power. Do to us what you think is good and appropriate. |
| 26So this is what Joshua did for them: he saved them from the Israelis, and they did not kill them. | 26Joshua did as they said; he kept the Israelites from killing them |
| 27However, on that very day Joshua made them become wood cutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the LORD's altar in the place that he should choose, and this tradition continues to this day. | 27and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.) |
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